'Be ready' evacuation order lifted from Cottage Grove brush fire

The fire was reported in the 78600 block of Dowens Road Friday afternoon.

Posted: May 10, 2019 5:40 PM

Updated: May 11, 2019 5:21 PM

Posted By: Chelsea Hunt

COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. --UPDATE: Fire crews say they've made good progress on a fire just east of Cottage Grove that was called in around 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Row River Road has been reopened to through traffic and the level one evacuation was lifted for residents in the area hours after it was put into place.

The roughly 60-acre fire has residents worried about what the rest of the summer will look like.

"We just had this mountain logged last year and right here in front of me there's about 15 brush piles that should've been cleaned up in the winter time that weren't," said Erik Martin, Dowens road resident. "So, we're definitely on-edge and worried about that."

Fire officials say they have about 150 personnel working on the fire and they'll likely be bringing out more hand crews to help with the mop-up.

Power is out for residents between Dowens Road and Shoreview Drive. Officials say power should be restored first thing in the morning.

The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

Nighttime photo of the fire taken by Marcus Kauffman, Oregon Department of Forestry.

A brush fire is burning near Cottage Grove Friday night, and one structure has already been destroyed, officials said.

South Lane County Fire & Rescue responded to the 78600 block of Dowens Road, between Cottage Grove and Dorena Lake, this afternoon.

A level one "be ready" evacuation order is in place, meaning residents in the area should be aware of the danger the fire poses. Lane County Emergency Management said residents in the Row River Road area between Dowens Road and Shoreview Drive east of Cottage Grove should be ready to evacuate.